Tooth-cleaning device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the field of tooth cleaning. According to the present invention a tooth cleaning device is provided, adapted to be introduced into the mouth. The tooth cleaning device comprises engaging means allowing it to be displaced all around the mouth by means of the tongue, thus performing a cleaning process.

FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of dental care andparticularly to a tooth-cleaning device which can be contained anddisplaced in the mouth without any need of being hand-held by the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

During the last years increasing attention has been paid towardtechniques for preserving teeth, jawbone structure and gums so that theycan be maintained in good condition till advanced age and possiblyduring the whole life span of an individual. In particular, since dentalhealth strongly depends on dental care it is highly recommended thatpeople should clean their teeth frequently, and possibly after everymeal.

However, the most common techniques and equipment for dental care, suchas, for example, hand-held tooth brushes and toothpaste require a supplyof water and a sink or basin, thus preventing people exploiting dentalcleaning in all those situations in which water and/or appropriatestructures are not at immediate disposal.

Nowadays it is becoming more and more usual that people spend most ofthe day out of their houses and have several quick meals while working,travelling (for example during a flight) or exploiting similar businessand/or leisure activities.

In all these situations as well as in other everyday circumstances itwould be highly desirable and beneficial to have the opportunity toexploit dental cleaning, not only for health reasons but also for thepurpose of refreshing the breath.

However, lack of time as well as other usual circumstances very oftenlead people to refrain from undertaking the necessary efforts to exploitadequate dental hygiene.

Moreover, dispensing the toothpaste on a traditional toothbrush requiresboth hands to be used and represents a nearly impossible task for peoplehaving limited or no upper body mobility, i.e. semi-disabled people.

Additionally, although increasing attention has been paid during thelast years to the problems and/or exigencies of handicapped people (forinstance people in wheelchairs) many public toilets and/or rest roomsare still not easily accessible to handicapped people, or, even ifaccessible, are not adequately equipped so that handicapped people areoften prevented from exploiting dental cleaning in public rest rooms.

To overcome these inconveniences, many solutions have been proposed inthe art, with the purpose of allowing people to carry out dentalcleaning in every daily circumstance.

For instance, it has been proposed to utilize chewing gum as an aid forcleaning teeth; this has the advantage that a supply of water and a sinkare not required, but chewing gum may not provide a very good degree ofcleaning of a set of teeth, especially where teeth join the gums.

Several forms of handless brushes, or brush balls have been alsoproposed. These devices are for the purpose of insertion into the mouth,to be chewed, with extending bristles cleaning the surfaces of theteeth. One of these devices is disclosed in patent application GB 2 351015, published on Dec. 20, 2000. This device has a resilient,collapsible, hollow spherical ball in its principle embodiment withshort bristles extending outwardly so that the user can chew the ballwhile the brush is cleaning his teeth; the hollow ball is perforated andcontains toothpaste which is dispersed as the ball is chewed.

While this may be somewhat practical, the cleaning results obtained byusing chewing balls of this kind have mostly revealed to beunsatisfactory. This is due in particular to the fact that as the ballis chewed, only the chewing surface of the teeth is cleaned whilst foodparticles between the teeth are not removed. Moreover, the ball ischewed at predefined positions between the teeth, depending on the waythe user is used to chewing; the ball is not displaced all around insidethe mouth leaving several places excluded from the cleaning action ofthe ball.

Another example of a tooth cleaning device adapted to be displacedwithin the mouth by means of the tongue is known from document DE10033849.

This being the situation it would be highly desirable to have animproved tooth-cleaning device overcoming or at least partially limitingthe drawbacks of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Generally, the present invention is directed to an- handless cleaningdevice which can be easily displaced all around inside the mouth, thusallowing excellent cleaning results to be obtained.

In particular, the tooth-leaning device according to the presentinvention allows dental plaque to be efficiently removed and/orprevented.

Moreover, the tooth-cleaning device of the present invention allowsteeth to be cleaned while exploiting daily activities and is thereforeof practical use and not time consuming.

Additionally, the inventive tooth-cleaning device does not require theuse of hands and/or arms and can therefore conveniently be used bydisabled people with not upper body mobility.

The tooth-cleaning device of the present invention does not requirewater and can be discarded once the cleaning process has been completed.

Finally, the tooth-cleaning device according to the present inventioncan be shaped so as to meet the particular requirements of the user. Theuser can select the most preferred shape allowing the tooth-cleaningdevice to be efficiently displaced all around inside the mouth. Theshape can even be modified during the cleaning process, allowing theuser to exploit different cleaning purposes, during a single cleaningprocess.

For this purpose, according to a first embodiment as claimed in claim 1,the present invention relates to a tooth-cleaning device comprising amain body and a plurality of bristles carried by said main body, whereinthe tooth-cleaning device comprises engaging means adapted to be engagedby the tongue and allowing said tooth-cleaning device to be displacedwithin the mouth by means of the tongue. Moreover, said main body isadapted to receive a dispersible substance which is naturally dispersedduring use. In particular, said main body is impregnated with saiddispersible substance.

Preferably, said dispersible substance can be selected between aflavoring substance or a toothpaste or a therapeutic substance.

According to a preferred embodiment as claimed in claim 5, the main bodyof the tooth-cleaning device of the present invention is a hollow bodycomprising an inner cavity defining a receiving portion adapted toreceive at least a portion of the tongue.

In another preferred embodiment as claimed in claim 9, the main body ofthe tooth-cleaning device of the present invention defines a throughhole.

According to a still preferred embodiment as claimed in claim 10, saidmain body has a ring or doughnut shape.

In another preferred embodiment as claimed in claim 18, said main bodyis deformable so that it can be shaped so as to form engaging meansadapted to be engaged by the tongue and allowing said tooth-cleaningdevice to be displaced within the mouth by means of the tongue.

In particular, according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention as claimed in claim 21, the main body of the tooth-cleaningdevice comprises a flat strip adapted to be deformed so as to define areceiving portion adapted to receive at least a portion of the tongue.

According to the further preferred embodiments as claimed in one ofclaims 22 to 24, said flat strip can be deformed into a body havingapproximately a cylindrical shape, a thimble shape or a spherical shape.

In a still preferred embodiment as claimed in claim 25, the main body ofthe tooth-cleaning device according to the present invention comprisesan elongated body of an approximately barret-like shape.

For example, said elongated main body can be deformed into anapproximately ring shaped or doughnut shaped body, or into anapproximately square shaped body or a polygonal-like shaped body with apredefined number of sides.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the main body of thetooth-cleaning device of the present invention is filled with a liquiddispersible substance which is released, during use, through smallpassages provided in said body.

In another preferred embodiment as claimed in claim 35, the main body ofthe tooth-cleaning device of the present invention is formed by aresilient material and a string or cord is provided to be hand-held bythe user, thus preventing accidental ingestion of the tooth-cleaningdevice. Preferably, said resilient material is selected between gum,silicon or resin.

Additionally, according to the still preferred embodiment as claimed inclaim 37, the main body of the inventive tooth-leaning device is inert,non-toxic and impervious to saliva.

According to another preferred embodiment as claimed in claim 38,adhesion improving means are provided to improve the adhesion of thetongue to the main body. Preferably, said additional improving meanscomprise resilient protrusions extending from the main body.

According to a further preferred embodiment as claimed in claim 42, thetooth-cleaning device of the present invention is embedded in a sweet ora drop or the like of a dispersible material adapted to be dissolved bythe human saliva and/or by chewing.

Other preferred embodiments of the tooth-cleaning device according tothe present invention are defined in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, objects and features of the present invention aredefined in the appended claims and will become more apparent with thefollowing detailed description when taken with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which identical or corresponding parts areidentified by the same reference numerals. In particular, in thedrawings:

FIGS. 1 a to 1 f relates to a ring or doughnut shaped tooth-cleaningdevice according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

In FIGS. 2 a to 2 d there are depicted some preferred shapes of the mainbody of the tooth-cleaning device of the present invention;

FIGS. 3 a to 3 d relate to further preferred embodiments of thetooth-cleaning device of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 a to 4 d represent corresponding embodiments of thetooth-cleaning device of the present invention wherein the main body hasa hollow spherical shape;

FIGS. 5 a to 5 d relate to a further embodiment of the present inventionwherein the main body comprises a deformable, elongated barret-like mainbody;

In FIGS. 6 a to 6 d there are depicted some preferred cross-sectionalshapes of the elongated barret-like main body of FIGS. 5 a to 5 d;

FIGS. 7 a to 7 d relate to a further embodiment of the tooth-cleaningdevice of the present invention wherein the main body comprises adeformable flat strip;

In FIGS. 8 a to 8 e some embodiments of the tooth-cleaning device of thepresent invention are depicted as comprising adhesion improving means.

FIGS. 9 a to 9 e represent corresponding examples of bristles which canbe provided on the main body of the tooth-cleaning device of the presentinvention.

In FIGS. 10 a to 10 c there are depicted corresponding examples in whichthe inventive cleaning device is embedded in a drop of a dispersiblematerial.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is described with reference to theembodiments as illustrated in the following detailed description as wellas in the drawings, it should be understood that the following detaileddescription as well as the drawings are not intended to limit thepresent invention to the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed,but rather the described illustrative embodiments merely exemplify thevarious aspects of the present invention, the scope of which is definedby the appended claims.

In the following, description will be given with reference to FIGS. 1 ato 1 f and 2 a to 2 d of a first embodiment of the tooth-cleaning deviceaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 1 a represents a top view of the inventive tooth-cleaning devicewhilst FIGS. 1 b to 1 f relate to corresponding cross-sectional views.In FIGS. 2 a to 2 d some examples are given of corresponding embodimentshaving different shapes.

As depicted in FIG. 1 a, the tooth-cleaning device 1 according to thefirst embodiment comprises a main body 2 and bristles 3 carried by saidmain body 2. The main body 2 defines a through hole 4 adapted to receiveat least the end portion of the human tongue, thus allowing thetooth-cleaning device 1 to be engaged by the tongue so as to bedisplaced all around inside the mouth. As the tooth-cleaning device isdisplaced by the user into the mouth, the bristles 3 come into contactwith the teeth and the gums so as to remove food particles. Once thecleaning process has been completed the tooth-cleaning device 1 isdiscarded.

The through hole 4 allows the tooth-cleaning device 1 to be engaged bythe tongue, thus rendering it easy for the user to displace thetooth-cleaning device 1 all around inside the mouth. Preferably, thetooth-cleaning device 1 comprises an engaging portion adapted to beengaged by the tongue with said engaging portion being kept free fromthe bristles; for example, in the particular embodiment depicted in FIG.1 b, the main body 2 comprises a cylindrical surface 5 facing thethrough hole 4. As apparent from FIG. 1 b no bristles are provided onthe cylindrical surface 5 with the purpose of allowing the tongue to beeasily received into the through hole 4. In fact, bristles on thecylindrical surface 5 could render it annoying or troublesome to engagethe tooth-cleaning device 1 with the tongue.

The main body 2 of the tooth-cleaning device 1 can have severalpreferred cross-sectional shapes; for instance, as apparent from FIG. 1b, the cross-sectional contour of the main body 2 can comprise a linearportion corresponding to the cylindrical surface 5 disclosed above, anda curved portion 5 ^(I) joined to said linear portion. Othercross-sectional shapes fall within the scope of the present invention asapparent from FIGS. 1 c to 1 f, wherein the bristles have been omittedfor clarity; for instance, as depicted in FIG. 1 e an annular ordoughnut shaped main body 2 can be realized, with said annular bodyhaving a circular cross-sectional shape. Alternatively, the annular mainbody 2 of the inventive tooth-cleaning device can have an ovalcross-sectional shape as depicted in FIGS. 1 c and 1 d. In theparticular embodiment of FIG. 1 c the main body 2 has a cross-sectionalshape which is elongated in the vertical direction with respect to themain body 2. In the particular embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 d, theannular main body 2 has an oval cross-sectional shape which is elongatedin the horizontal direction with respect to the main body 2. Finally, asdepicted in FIG. 1 f, the annular main body 2 can have a polygonal-likecross-sectional shape. In the particular embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 fthe polygonal cross-sectional shape comprises eight sides. However, anypolygonal shape with a predefined number of sides can be selected,according to the circumstances.

As it will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 8 a to 8e, the tooth-cleaning device 1 can be provided with adhesion improvingmeans adapted to improve the adhesion of the tongue to the main body.For instance, in the particular embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 bresilient protrusions can be provided on the cylindrical surface 5 or onthat portion of the main body which is deputed to be engaged by thetongue.

In FIGS. 2 a to 2 d the main body 2 is depicted as having differentshapes. For instance, in FIG. 2 a, the main body 2 has a polygonal-likeshape defining a polygonal-like through hole 4, whilst in FIG. 2 b thepolygonal shaped main body 2 defines a circular through hole 4. Asdepicted in FIG. 2 c the main body 2 can also have a square shapedefining a square through hole 4 or, alternatively, as depicted in FIG.2 d, the main body 2 can have a square shape defining a circularthrough. hole 4.

It is understood that other shapes not depicted in the Figures fallwithin the scope of the invention and that the examples given are notintended to limit the present invention, but merely exemplify thevarious shapes the tooth-cleaning device of the present invention canhave.

It is also understood that any of the different shapes depicted in FIG.2 a to 2 d can be combined with any of the cross-sectional shapesdepicted in FIGS. 1 a to 1 f. For instance, the polygonal shaped mainbody 2 of FIG. 2 a can have a circular cross-sectional shape as depictedin FIG. 1 e or even an oval cross-sectional shape as depicted in one ofFIGS. 1 c and 1 d.

According to a preferred embodiment the main body 2 of thetooth-cleaning device is adapted to receive a dispersible substance,such as, for example a toothpaste or a flavoring substance or atherapeutic substance. For instance, said main body 2 can be filled witha liquid dispersible substance which is released, during use, throughsmall passages (not depicted in the Figures) provided in said body.Alternatively, said main body 2 can be impregnated with said dispersiblesubstance.

The main body 2 is preferably formed by a resilient material, such asfor example gum, silicon, resin or the like.

The tooth-cleaning device of the present invention is preferably inert,non-toxic and impervious to saliva.

In the following, description will be given with reference to FIGS. 3 ato 3 d and 4 a to 4 d of a further embodiment of the tooth-cleaningdevice according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3 b and 3 a relate to a perspective view and a cross-sectionalview of the tooth-cleaning device, respectively. As apparent from FIGS.3 b and 3 a, the main body 2 according to the further embodimentdepicted is a hollow body defining an inner cavity 7 communicating withthe exterior through a receiving aperture. The inner cavity 7 is adaptedto receive at least the end portion of the tongue, so that thetooth-cleaning device 1 can be engaged by the tongue so as to bedisplaced by the user all around inside the mouth. As depicted in theFigures, the inner cavity 7 can have any shape usual for receiving theend portion of the tongue. For instance, as depicted in FIGS. 3 a and 3d the inner cavity 7 can have a taper shape. Alternatively, as depictedin FIG. 3 c the inner cavity 7 can have a hollow cylindrical shape.

As stated above, the inner cavity 7 is adapted to be engaged by thetongue. In order to improve the adhesion of the tongue with the innersurface 7 ^(I) of the inner cavity 7, said inner surface 7 ^(I) can beprovided with adhesion improving means such as resilient protrusions 8as depicted in FIGS. 8 a.

Alternatively, the inner surface 7 ^(I) is kept free from said adhesionimproving means but a shape for the inner cavity is selected, allowing akind of vacuum effect to be obtained; so that the tooth-cleaning devicecan be conveniently displaced all around inside the mouth.

Also the exterior shape can be selected according to the circumstancesas apparent from FIGS. 3 c and 3 d. In FIG. 3 c, the main body 2 isdepicted as having a hollow cylindrical shape while in FIG. 3 d the mainbody 2 is depicted as having a thimble shape.

For clarity purposes, in FIG. 3 b the bristles 3 are depicted ascovering only partially the external surface of the main body 2.However, as apparent from FIG. 3 a, said bristles 3 are preferablyprovided so as to cover the whole external surface of the main body 2.As apparent from FIG. 3 a the edge of the inner cavity 7 as well as theinner surface 7 ^(I) of the inner cavity 7 are preferably kept free frombristles. In fact, providing the bristles on the edge or even on theinner surface 7 ^(I) of the inner cavity 7 could render it annoying ortroublesome to engage the tooth-cleaning device with the tongue.

As depicted in FIGS. 4 a to 4 b the main body 2 can also have aspherical hollow shape defining an inner cavity 7 of a predefined shape.For instance, as depicted in FIG. 4 c the inner cavity 7 can have ahollow spherical shape. Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 4 d, theinner cavity 7 can have a taper shape. Again, in the side view of FIG. 4a as well as in the top view of FIG. 4 b the bristles 3 are depicted ascovering only partially the external surface of the main body 2 forreason of clarity; however, said bristles 3 are preferably provided soas to cover the whole external surface of the main body 2. In the samemanner as in the case of the tooth-cleaning device depicted in FIG. 3 ato 3 d, the edge of the inner cavity 7 of the spherical tooth-leaningdevice depicted in FIGS. 4 a to 4 d is normally kept free from cleaningbristles and adhesion improving means such as resilient protrusions canbe provided on the edge of the inner cavity 7 as well as on the innersurface 7 ^(I) of the inner cavity 7.

Of course, also the main body 2 of the tooth-cleaning device of theembodiment described with reference to FIGS. 3 a to 3 d and 4 a to 4 dcan be adapted to receive a dispersible substance, such as, for example,a refreshing or flavoring substance, a toothpaste or a therapeuticalsubstance. Said dispersible substance can either be filled into the mainbody 2 so as to be released during use through small passages providedin the main body 2 (not depicted in the Figures) or the main body 2 canbe impregnated with said dispersible substance.

Preferably, gum, silicon or resin or the like are selected as materialsfor forming the main body 2 with said main body 2 being non-toxic, inertand impervious to saliva.

Further preferred embodiments of the tooth-cleaning device according tothe present invention will be described in the following, with referenceto FIGS. 5 a to 5 d, 6 a to 6 d and 7 a to 7 d. According to saidpreferred embodiments, the main body 2 of the tooth-cleaning device 1 isa deformable body, i.e. a body which can be deformed into any preferredshape. In particular, the tooth-cleaning device can be deformed for thepurpose of rendering it easily engageable by the tongue, thus allowingit to be displaced all around inside the mouth by means of the tongue.

In the particular embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5 a to 5 d, the main body2 has an elongated barret-like shape. Alternatively, as depicted inFIGS. 7 a to 7 d the main body 2 may comprise a flat, enlarged strip. InFIGS. 5 b to 5 d some examples have been given of the way the elongatedbarret-like main body 2 of FIG. 5 e can be deformed so as to be easilyengaged by the tongue. For instance, as depicted in FIG. 5 b theelongated barret-like body 2 can be deformed into an annular ringdefining a circular through hole 4. Alternatively, the main body 2 canbe deformed so as to define an elongated through hole 4 as depicted inFIG. 5 d. As a further example, the main body 2 can be deformed into ahorseshoe shape as depicted in FIG. 5 c.

The elongated barret-like main body 2 can have any preferredcross-sectional shape as depicted in FIGS. 6 a to 6 d. For instance asdepicted in FIG. 6 a the main body may comprise a flat surface 5 and thecross-sectional contour of the barret-like main body 2 may comprise alinear portion corresponding to said flat surface and a curved portion 5joined to said linear portion. Alternatively, the barret-like main body2 can have a circular cross-sectional shape (not depicted in FIGS. 6 ato 6 d) or an oval cross-sectional shape as depicted in FIG. 6 c, or apolygonal-like cross-sectional shape with a predefined number of sidesas depicted in FIGS. 6 b and 6 d.

In the same manner as in the case of the first embodiment describedabove, a portion of the barret-like main body 2 is preferably kept freefrom the circular bristles so that the user can easily realize anengaging portion not covered by cleaning bristles, and being adapted tobe engaged by the tongue.

In the case in which the deformable main body 2 comprises an enlargedflat strip, said flat strip can be easily deformed into a tubular shapehaving either a circular cross-sectional shape as depicted in FIG. 7 bor an elongated oval cross-sectional shape as depicted in FIG. 7 c oreven a horseshoe bat cross-sectional shape (not depicted in FIGS. 7 a to7 d). As a further example, the flat strip 7 a can be deformed into ahollow body as depicted in FIG. 7 d, with said hollow body having ashape approximately corresponding to the several shapes described withreference to FIGS. 3 a to 3 d and 4 a to 4 e.

Obviously, the deformable main body 2 of the present embodiment can alsobe filled with a dispersible substance, such as a flavoring substance ora toothpaste or therapeutic substance with said substance beingreleased, during use, through small passages provided into said mainbody. Alternatively, the deformable main body 2 can be impregnated withsaid dispersible substance.

The deformable main body 2 of the present embodiment is non-toxic inertand impervious to salvia.

In FIGS. 8 a to 8 e, examples are given of the way the differentembodiments described can be provided with adhesion improving means 8.In particular, in FIG. 8 a the thimble shape hollow body 2 describedabove with reference to FIGS. 3 a to 3 d is depicted as comprisingresilient protrusions 8 disposed on the inner surface 7 ^(I) of theinner cavity 7. In FIG. 8 b the deformable elongated barret-like mainbody 2 is represented as being equipped with said resilient protrusions8 covering a flat surface 5 of said main body 2. As a further example,FIGS. 8 c relates to a cross-sectional view of an annular main body 2wherein the resilient protrusions 8 have been provided so as to face thethrough hole 4. The resilient protrusions 8 may have any preferred shapeas depicted in FIGS. 8 e and 8 d.

Finally, with reference to FIGS. 9 a to 9 c, examples are given ofcleaning bristles the tooth-cleaning of the present invention may beequipped with. As apparent from FIG. 9 a, the cleaning bristles may beof two different lengths. The cleaning bristles may also be arranged intuffs as depicted in FIGS. 9 b and 9 c. Finally, as depicted in FIG. 9 cthe bristles can extend at an angle from the main body.

Preferably, the material forming the bristles comprises nylon.

All the embodiments of the tooth-cleaning device of the presentinvention as described above may be provided with a piece of cotton or astring or even a cord (not depicted in the Figures) to be hand-held bythe user for the purpose of preventing accidental ingestion; this isparticular convenient when the tooth-cleaning device is used bychildren.

According to a further preferred embodiment the tooth-cleaning device ofthe present invention can be embedded in a sweet or a drop or the like;after having been put into the mouth, the material forming the sweet ordrop is dissolved by the saliva or by chewing. Once the drip isdissolved, the tooth-cleaning device is displaced all around inside themouth and a cleaning process as described above can be performed.

The drop or sweet may comprise a flavoring substance or a therapeuticsubstance whilst sugar containing materials are preferably avoided.

Depicted in FIGS. 10 a to 10 c are corresponding examples in which thetooth-cleaning devices of FIGS. 1 a, 3 a and 5 a, respectively, areembedded in a drop 9 of a dispersible material.

In conclusion, an inventive tooth-cleaning device has been disclosed,which shows the following advantages and/or differences with respect toprior art tooth-cleaning devices.

The inventive tooth-cleaning device is not to be chewed but the cleaningaction is exploited by displacing the inventive tooth-cleaning deviceall around inside the mouth by means of the tongue.

For this purpose, the inventive tooth-cleaning device comprises engagingmeans to be engaged by the tongue. By displacing the inventivetooth-cleaning device all around inside the mouth not only the chewingsurface of the teeth is cleaned but food particles are efficientlyremoved from crevices between the teeth, the gums are stimulated anddental plague is properly removed.

The inventive tooth-cleaning device can be used in any situation inwhich water is not at immediate disposal and once used can be discarded.

The inventive tooth-cleaning device may be conveniently used by disabledor handicapped people.

The inventive tooth-cleaning device allows a thorough cleaning programto be exploited in a non-time consuming manner and can therefore beconveniently used by those busy people who are reluctant to take thetime for dental cleaning.

Of course, it should be understood that a wide range of changes andmodifications can be made to the embodiments described above. It istherefore also understood that it is the claims, including allequivalence, which are intended to define the scope of the invention. Itis finally to be understood that the forms and/or shapes of thetooth-cleaning device according to the present invention shown anddescribed herein are to be constructed as the presently preferredembodiments.

1. A tooth-cleaning device (1) comprising: a main body (2) and aplurality of bristles (3) carried by said main body, said tooth-cleaningdevice comprising engaging means (4, 7) adapted to be engaged by thehuman tongue and allowing said tooth-cleaning device to be displacedwithin the mouth by means of the tongue; with said main body beingadapted to receive a dispersible substance which is naturally dispersedduring use; and said main body is impregnated with said dispersiblesubstance.
 2. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 wherein saiddispersible substance is selected from a group consisting of a flavoringsubstance, a toothpaste, or a therapeutical substance.
 3. Atooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engaging meanscomprise a receiving portion (4, 7) adapted to receive at least aportion of the tongue, allowing said tooth-cleaning device to bedisplaced within the mouth by means of the tongue.
 4. A tooth-cleaningdevice as claimed in claim 3, wherein said receiving portion comprises areceiving aperture (4) adapted to receive at least the end portion ofthe tongue, allowing the tooth-cleaning device to be displaced withinthe mouth by means of the tongue.
 5. A tooth-cleaning device as claimedin claim 4, wherein said main body is a hollow body comprising an innercavity (7) defining said receiving portion, with said inner cavitycommunicating with the exterior through said receiving aperture
 6. Atooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said hollow bodyhas an approximately hollow cylindrical shape, defining an approximatelycylindrical receiving portion.
 7. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed inclaim 5, wherein said main body has an approximately hollow thimbleshape defining a tapered receiving portion.
 8. A tooth-cleaning deviceas claimed in claim 5, wherein said main body has an approximatelyspherical hollow shape defining an approximately spherical receivingportion.
 9. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein saidmain body defines a trough hole (4) corresponding to said receivingaperture.
 10. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 9, whereinsaid main body has an approximately ring or doughnut shape.
 11. Atooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said main body hasan approximately square shape.
 12. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed inclaim 9, wherein said main body has an approximately polygonal shapewith a predefined number of sides.
 13. A tooth-cleaning device asclaimed in claim 9, wherein said main body has a cross sectional shapeapproximately circular.
 14. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim11, wherein said main body has an approximately square cross sectionalshape.
 15. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 12, wherein saidmain body has an approximately polygonal cross sectional shape with apredefined number of sides.
 16. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed inclaim 9, wherein said main body comprises a cylindrical surface (5)facing said through hole.
 17. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed inclaim 16, wherein said main body has a cross-sectional contour definedby a linear portion and a curved portion joined to said linear portion.18. A tooth-cleaning device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mainbody (2) is deformable so that it can be shaped so as to form engagingmeans (4, 7) adapted to be engaged by the human tongue and allowing saidtooth-cleaning device to be displaced within the mouth by means of thetongue.
 19. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 18, wherein saidmain body can be deformed so as to define a receiving portion (4, 7)adapted to receive at least a portion of the tongue, allowing saidtooth-cleaning device to be displaced within the mouth by means of thetongue.
 20. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 19, wherein saidmain body can be deformed so as to define a receiving portion comprisinga receiving aperture (4) adapted to receive at least the end portion ofthe tongue, allowing the tooth-cleaning device to be displaced withinthe mouth by means of the tongue.
 21. A tooth-cleaning device as claimedin claim 20, wherein said main body comprises a flat strip adapted to bedeformed so as to define said receiving portion.
 22. A tooth-cleaningdevice as claimed in claim 21, wherein said flat strip can be deformedinto a body of an approximately cylindrical shape, defining anapproximately cylindrical receiving portion.
 23. A tooth-cleaning deviceas claimed in claim 21, wherein said flat strip can be deformed into abody of an approximately thimble shape defining a taper receivingportion.
 24. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 20, whereinsaid flat strip can be deformed into a body of an approximatelyspherical shape defining an approximately spherical receiving portion.25. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said mainbody comprises an elongated body of an approximately barrel-like shape,adapted to be deformed so as to define a through hole (4).
 26. Atooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said elongatedbody can be deformed into an approximately ring-shaped ordoughnut-shaped body.
 27. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim25, wherein said elongated body can be deformed into an approximatelysquare-shaped body.
 28. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 25,wherein said elongated body can be deformed into an approximatelypolygonal shaped body with a predefined number of sides.
 29. Atooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said elongatedbody has a cross-sectional shape approximately circular.
 30. Atooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 27, wherein said elongatedbody has an approximately square cross-sectional shape.
 31. Atooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 28, wherein said elongatedbody has an approximately polygonal like cross-sectional shape with apredefined number of sides.
 32. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed inclaim 25, wherein said elongated body comprises a flat surface (5). 33.A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 32, wherein said elongatedbody has a cross-sectional contour defined by a linear portion and acurved portion (5′) joined to said linear portion.
 34. A tooth-cleaningdevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main body comprises a contactarea adapted to be contacted by the tongue, with said bristles beingprovided outside said contact area.
 35. A tooth-cleaning device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said main body is formed by a resilientmaterial and a string or cord is provided to be hand-held by the user,thus preventing accidental ingestion of the tooth-cleaning device.
 36. Atooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 35, wherein said resilientmaterial is selected from a group consisting of gum, silicon, or resin.37. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body isinert, non-toxic and impervious to saliva.
 38. A tooth-cleaning deviceas claimed in claim 1, wherein said main body comprises adhesionimproving means (8) adapted to improve the adhesion Of the tongue to themain body.
 39. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 38, whereinsaid adhesion improving means comprise resilient protrusions extendingfrom said main body.
 40. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said bristles comprise bristles of at least two differentlengths.
 41. A tooth-cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidbristles comprise bristle tufts.
 42. A tooth-cleaning device as claimedin claim 1, wherein said main body (2) and said bristles are at leastpartially embedded in a sweet or a drop (9) of a dispersible substanceadapted to be dispersed by the human saliva.